ODJ: Child-like Faith

April 22, 2018 

READ: Luke 10:1-23 

Jesus...said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the child-like” (v.21).

Every Sunday morning in the foyer, our eyes meet. Her eyes are full of joy, twinkling. Immediately she breaks into song, loudly singing my name, “Mar-le-na!” She ambles over, we hug and I say, “It is so good to see you.” She always responds with, “It is good to be seen.” And then I remind her, “You know I love you.” And she trustingly offers, “I know you do.” My dear friend, who is seventy-five and dealing with progressing dementia, remains full of the joy of the Lord. She’s child-like in her trust of Jesus and those who love Him.

I marvel at my friend, so joyful in spite of her circumstances. Her true joy reminds me of the Scriptures that describe Jesus’ joy. In Luke 10, for example, Jesus had just sent seventy-two of His disciples ahead of Him to minister in the towns He planned on visiting (v.1). They returned full of joy and in awe of God’s power. “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” they reported (v.17). After Jesus heard their updates, the Bible tells us that He was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the child-like. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way” (v.21).

God’s ways are revealed to the humble, to those who, with simple trust, believe that Jesus is who He says He is: “Unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 18:3). When we trust Christ and exchange our ways and the world’s ways for His ways, joy comes. Every time I see my friend, I’m reminded of the beauty of this truth.

—Marlena Graves

365-day plan: 1 Kings 22:29-40